Eclipta prostrata
(L.) L.
White Eclipta, False daisy
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Herb, Leaves, Roots, Vegetable
Tender leaves and young shoots are edible when cooked and used as a vegetable.
Where to Find It
A tropical and subtropical plant. It occurs in humid places. It grows in damp locations such as river banks. It is a common self sown plant. It is common in rice paddy fields. It grows in wetland. It occurs in all tropical regions. In Nepal it grows to about 1500 m altitude. It needs a temperature above 10°C. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 2,000 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.
Africa, American Samoa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America*, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Eswatini, Europe, Fiji, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Lesser Antilles, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marquesas, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Rotuma, Russia, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Tibet, Tuvalu, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,
How to Identify
A small straggling herb which keeps growing from year to year. It curves upwards along the ground and forms roots at the nodes. It is 30-60 cm tall. The leaves are sword shaped and hairy. They occur opposite each other and do not have a leaf stalk. They are 1-5 cm long by 0.4-1 cm wide. The leaves have large teeth along the edge near the tip. The flower is produced in the axils of the leaves. The flower heads are a dirty white. There are a group of seeds in the head. The flower stalk is 2-4 cm long.
Nutrition Score: 30/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaves | — | — | — | 36 | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Requires a damp to wet soil and a position in some shade. This is a tropical species and it might need more summer heat and a longer growing season than is normally available in British summers.
Propagation: Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse, barely covering it. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant out into permanent positions in early summer, after the last expected frosts. Provide extra protection such as a cloche until the plants are well established.
Medicinal Uses
This species is widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine and in Ayurveda, where it is regarded as one of the best remedies for the hair and is also used as a rejuvenative and liver tonic. The whole plant contains the alkaloids nicotine and ecliptine, as well as coumarin. It is astringent, deobstruent, depurative, emetic, febrifuge, ophthalmic, purgative, styptic, and tonic. Internally, it is used to treat dropsy, liver complaints, anaemia, diphtheria, tinnitus, tooth loss, and premature greying of the hair. Externally, it is applied as an oil to treat hair loss, and is also used on athlete's foot, eczema, dermatitis, and wounds. Plant juice mixed with an aromatic is used for catarrhal problems and jaundice. The leaves are applied in the treatment of scorpion stings and are used as an antidote for snake bites in Korea. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and dried for later use. The roots are emetic and purgative, and are applied externally as an antiseptic to ulcers and wounds, particularly in cattle.
Other Uses
A black dye obtained from the plant is used as a hair dye and for tattooing.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Eclipta prostrata, the false daisy, is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread across much of the world. This plant has cylindrical, grayish roots. Solid, circular, purplish stems with white fine hairs 0.8m. Leaves arranged in opposite pairs, hairy in two-sided, lanceolate, serrated 2–12.5 cm long, 5–35 mm wide. The solitary flower heads are 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) in diameter, with white florets. The bumpy achenes are compressed and narrowly winged. This species is native to North and South America. It also grows commonly in moist places in warm temperate to tropical areas worldwide. It can be found in habitats such as on marsh edges, along lake shores and river banks, and in brackish marshes and cypress depression swamps.
Other Information
It is only occasionally used. It is sold in local markets in China.
Notes
It is used in medicine.
Names & Synonyms
Aali jhar, A ge wo chi, Agriao-do-brejo, A ji mei, Bhagra, Bhangrii, Bhirangrazshak, Bhringraj, Bhrungaraj, Boton blanco, Botoncillo, Coacica, Coatia, Curichera, Eclipta, Ekaraja, Erva-botao, Erva-lanceta, Goman, Grobidia, Huangjiu, Ink plant, Kaiyunni, Kalhu kandhili, Kameng, Karippan, Karisalankanni, Keharaj, Kehraj, Keshut, Kesut, Kpawu, Kyeik-hman, Lenguilla, Maka, Mo han lian, Mossofing, Nhanvua, Ntum, Quebra-pedra, Sucurima, Surucuina, Tandala, Tangara caa, Tangarac, Uchi-sumban, Urang-aring, White twin-heads
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